Sunday, March 16, 2008

(Mostly) Off-topic: How I spent my weekend

I don't buy a lot of movies lately, but the Wife and I were out, and stumbled across this pile on sale. And that was right after we rented 30 Days of Night, We Own the Night, and Hitman. (She had thought I was waiting for Hitman, for some reason, and I don't know if I was jumping up and down for it, but it looks like dumb gunplay fun. And after watching it, nobody comments on the barcode tattoo? Yeah, that's not an identifying mark or anything.) The Wife had actually been waiting for 30 Days for years now, since I told her about it back when it was first optioned and she thought it sounded interesting--not interesting enough to read the comic, but interesting.

30 Days was pretty enjoyable. I don't remember if it was a panel-by-panel accurate adaptation, since I haven't read it in a while, but I'm not a stickler for that. I don't wanna get all into the movie, but there was one point that reminded me of, all things, Army of Darkness: The hero, in a four-wheeled death machine, mowing down the monsters, triumphantly...drives into a wall. Well, I guess it would be anticlimactic if it worked and he just ran them all over. The above probably doesn't make any sense unless you remember both movies well, I suppose.

Anyway, the DVD pile restocks our house pretty well: the Wife likes to watch seasons of shows, or just leave them on for background noise; usually reality shows or comedies like the Office or Reno 911! Just yesterday she was watching her Anna Nicole Show set; so I'm more than happy to get something new into the rotation. Can't say I'm thrilled to have So NoTorious in the house, though.

(I say that, but suddenly I'm curious/terrified about the numbers. I'm not going to look it up, but I think Justice League of America sold just under 100,000 copies on the direct market last month. How many DVD's did Tori Spelling sell in that time? Or books, for that matter? On second thought, I don't wanna know.)

I was looking forward to getting Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and the Grindhouse movies (although, it's weak that they don't come with the fake trailers that were in the theatre, I particularly miss "Don't.") since I really wanted them, I just didn't want them at twenty bucks a pop.

Just before finding all the DVD's, I had just picked up Fulltime Killers on VHS. Don't laugh, I like picking up the occasional tape, and it was cheaper than renting it. Of course, I say that, and I still have a Lone Wolf and Cub movie I haven't time to watch around here somewhere. Every so often, the kids will go through the old tapes, and I'll see it and remember I have it, but not enough time to watch it. Actually, that's not true, I probably have plenty of time, but I'm the only one in the house that wants to watch it, so I have to clear everyone out and take the time out of blogging or nattering away with toys. Oh, and the family, I guess.

Speaking of family, the Oldest's guitar lessons continue, and he's doing great. His grandpa made this tape of him, so check it out if you like. Man, I remember taking piano lessons when I was his age and sucking terribly.

I'm a little antsy lately for toys: the second series of DC Super-Heroes hasn't turned up yet, the new Marvel Legends either. There's also figures I want that I'm hoping don't go all vaporware on me: the twelve-inch Marvel Icons Nightcrawler, Shocker Toys Scud figure, probably some others that aren't showing up any time soon, if ever.

Still, I've been getting a lot of clearance toys lately. This Superman: Through the Ages set was marked down to $12.50, down from $49.99. I don't think of myself as a huge Superman fan, but that averages out to like three bucks a figure, and I was able to trade in a pile of old DVD's and books to get it for nothing. And trust me, I have plans for the Superman Robot.

Oh, and since this morning, one of the dogs got that potato. Weird. Happy St. Patrick's if you're doing something.